Ryan Reed Joins Roush Fenway Racing

Ryan Reed will contest a select number of events for Roush Fenway Racing in the NASCAR Nationwide Series in 2013. (Adam Fenwick/AKFPhotos.com Photo)

CONCORD, N.C. – Ryan Reed, a type one diabetic, has joined Roush Fenway Racing to contest a select number of NASCAR Nationwide Series events during the 2013 season.

Reed, who will drive the No. 16 Ford Mustang, will have support from the American Diabetes Association Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign, with his first race currently set for Richmond (Va.) Int’l Raceway on April 26.

A native Bakersfield, Calif., Reed has been racing since the age of four and was diagnosed two years ago at age 17 with type one diabetes and was told he would never drive again.

This was unacceptable to the young man who has become an advocate for diabetes awareness and had started his own foundation, RyansMission.org, to educate people on diabetes. Reed continued to drive and had a successful 2012 season in the ARCA Racing Series, as well as select NASCAR Camping World Truck Series events.

This unique collaboration with the Association to Drive to Stop Diabetes will use Reed’s story as the voice. The Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign will include awareness and educational efforts at all NASCAR Nationwide races this year, as well as at several off track health and wellness initiatives throughout 2013.

The Drive to Stop Diabetes mobile movement will focus attention to educating the community on all types of diabetes. The Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign, through RyansMission.org (501c3), will donate 100 percent of all net-proceeds to the Association.

“The American Diabetes Ass’n is thrilled to collaborate with Roush Fenway Racing and Ryan’s Mission on the Drive to Stop Diabetes awareness campaign,” said Larry Hausner, Chief Executive Officer, American Diabetes Association. “As one of the nearly 26 million people living in the U.S. with diabetes, Ryan Reed is an inspiring individual and his voice is critical to spreading awareness and educating communities across the country about this disease.”

“Roush Fenway Racing has always been in the business of helping to facilitate the career of young drivers,” Eric Peterson, Operations Manager at Roush Fenway Racing said. “We have a robust driver development program and have identified Ryan as a potential young talent and we are looking forward to seeing how he performs on the track. If you look back over the past couple of years, we have been fortunate to have the opportunity to evaluate quite a few drivers behind the wheel of our cars and we are anxious to see what Ryan can do with this opportunity.”

“I see this as an opportunity to show my ability,” Reed stated. “Obviously my goal is to follow in the progression of many drivers that have started inside the Nationwide Series ranks and worked their way up to contend for the Sprint Cup. It will be a great opportunity and I intend to make the most of it.”

Fundly will be an associate sponsor on the No. 16 Drive to Stop Diabetes Ford Mustang and will fully support the crowd-funding mission.

“Fundly is proud to partner with Ryan Reed on the Drive to Stop Diabetes campaign,” Tom Kramer, CMO, Fundly explained. “This man and this campaign are emblematic of everything Fundly stands for: coming together and unleashing our individual power to do good in our world. Go Ryan! The entire Fundly team is with you all the way to the finish! Ryan is another example of inspiring individuals using Fundly for Social Good. Ryan turned his diabetes diagnosis into an opportunity to raise awareness and raise money for a cure. As far as we know, he is one of the first NASCAR drivers to embrace crowdfunding for a cause. That puts him miles ahead in our book.”

“I’m fortunate to have the opportunity to not only be able to drive for the most winning NASCAR team as a development driver for Roush Fenway Racing,” Ryan said. “But I also have the opportunity to help other people by educating them and letting them know – life has no limits.”